Buckeyes' QB Smith captures Heisman

NEW YORK — For Ohio State and Troy Smith, it's been that kind of year.

The Buckeyes were No. 1 from start to finish, and their star quarterback had no real challenger in winning the Heisman Trophy.

Smith was a runaway winner Saturday night as the best player in college football, just two years after nearly derailing his career by taking money from a booster.

The senior quarterback moved to the front of the Heisman race in September with a flawless performance against Texas and finished off a perfect regular season by throwing four touchdown passes against Michigan.

Now, there's only one thing left for Smith to do: Beat Florida for the national championship on Jan. 8.

"Normally, I'm pretty cool in pressure situations, but my heart is pounding really fast now," said Smith, who had big hugs for his mother, sister and coach Jim Tressel before taking the podium for his speech.

"I'm at a loss for words. I just can't believe this is happening. ... It means everything. Just to be here in this situation. I love everybody back home in Columbus."

Like so many of the victories Smith has led the Buckeyes to this season, the Heisman win was a rout.

He received 801 first-place votes, the second most ever, and 1,662 points more than second-place finisher Darren McFadden of Arkansas, making it the second-most lopsided Heisman vote. Only O.J. Simpson's 1,750-point victory in 1968 was more one-sided.

Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was third and West Virginia running back Steve Slaton was fourth.

Smith also received 86.7 percent of the first-place votes, a record, and his point total of 2,540 places third in Heisman history behind Simpson (2,853) and fellow Southern California tailback Reggie Bush, who had 2,541 last season.

The 22-year-old Smith is the sixth player from Ohio State to win the Heisman and first since tailback Eddie George in 1995. And it's the school's seventh Heisman — Archie Griffin won two in 1974-75 — tying Notre Dame and Southern California for the most.

USC had been on a Heisman run, winning two straight and three of the last four, before Smith stepped in. Just like USC's Bush and Matt Leinart, and Oklahoma's Jason White in '03, Smith will play for the national title as a Heisman winner.

It's been quite a journey.